Watering-trough



' (No Model.)

J. F. MAY. A vWJDEIUNG TROUGH. No. 443,647.

Patented Deo. 30, 1890.

. in accordance with my invention.

UNITED STATES PATENT Friet-3.

JOSEPH F. MAY, OF UTIOA, NEBRASKA. I

WATERINe-rucuei-l.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters atent No. 443,647, dated December30, 1890. Application filed July 29, 1890. Serial No. 360.299. (Nomodel.)

To @ZZ whom, t may concern:

Be it known that I, JOSEPH F. MAY', a citi- Zen of the United States,residing at Utica, in the county of Seward and State of Nebraska, haveinvented a new and useful Watering- Trough, of which the following is aspecification.

This invention has relation to improveinentsin stock-watering troughs;and the objects in view are to provide such a trough as will prevent anoverflow of the same with water and will maintain the water on a levelor at a proper height at all times, regardless of the quantity takentherefrom or consumed by the stock. With the above objects in view theinvention consists in certain features of construction hereinafterspecified, and particularly pointed out in the claim.

Referring to the drawings, Figure l is a perspective of awatering-trough constructed. Fig. 2 is a vertical longitudinal sectionof the same. Fig. 3 is a detail in perspective of the i'loat. Fig. a isa similar view of the valve. Fig. 5 is a detail view showing moreclearly the attachnient of the float to the valve.

Like numerals of reference indicate like parts in all the iigures of thedrawings.

l designates an ordinary rectangular trough, one-half of which iscovered by a cover or lid 2, screwed or otherwise secured in positionupon the trough. The inner edge of the lid 2 is provided with adepending partition 3,

which entends down to wit-hin a short distance of the bottom andsubdividcs the trough into a rear water-receiving compartment 4C and afront drinking-space 5, which is crossed by a transverse strip 6, inorder to prevent hogs from getting into the trough w ith their feet inthe act of drinking.

An opening 7 is formed in the rear wall of the trough, and a pipe orhose 8 leads therefrom to any suitable elevated source of supply. Theinner face of the rear wall at the point opposite the opening hassecured thereto a perforated plate 9, through the perforations of whichare passed screws, by which the plate is held in position. The plate isalso provided with a central valved opening or seat l0, which registerswith the opening 7. Secured to the plate by means of a screw 11 is aninwardly-opening clack-valve 12, adapted to cover the seat of thevalve-plate, and provided upon its exterior surface with anoutwardly-disposed lug 13.

14 designates a float, in this instance rectangular in shape, andprovided at its rear edge with eyes l5, which loosely engage hooks 1G,extending from the inner surface of the rear wall. The rear edge of thefloat is provided with a re-enforcing plate 17, which comes in contactwith the lug when said float is in a horizontal position, whichindicates the high-water niark, and thus the valve is closed against itsseat.

From the above it will be apparent that water may enter the trough andcontinue to flow therein until it reaches such a height as to elevatethe float to a horizontal position, at which time the valve will beentirely closed by reason of the rear end of the plate pressing thesaine upon its seat. If a small quantity of water is consumed andwithdrawn from the trough, the float is lowered slightly and the valveproportionately opened, so that the exact quantity drawn is admitted tothe trough, and thus the saine is always maintained full or at a properlevel, and the possibility of any waste is positively avoided.

It will be observed that the plate 9, the valve l2, and the float areall connected and form anarticle adapted to be applied to the side wallof a trough or barrel simply by the insertion of the four screws l1through the openings of the plate 9. In asimilar manner the iioat andvalve .mechanism may be withdrawn for the purpose of cleaning thetrough. l also avoid any complicated construction and any pivotal jointsliable to become inoperative by the rust, dsc.

Having thus described myinvention, what I claim is-- The combination,with the trough having an opening in one of its vertical walls, and asupply-pipe leading thereto and from a source of supply, of a metalplate secured to said walls and provided with a valve-seat opposite theopening in the wall and below the seat with hooks, the flexible valvesecured at its upper end to the plate above its seat and In testimonythat I claim the foregoing as provided with a lug, and a float providedat my own I have hereto affixed my 4signature in 1o its lower inner edgewith eyes which engage presence of two witnesses. the hooks of theplate, whereby it is loosely IOSFPH F u \Y 5 hinged to the plate belowthe Valve and its i l' seat, said float being adapted when elevatedW'ltnesses: to abut at its upper rearend against the lug H. M. COLMAN,of the valve, substantially as specified. R. N. GILBERT.

